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Worth fixing up this thrift store pile of...?

BadSanta1281

BadSanta1281

Jan 13, 2019
1,876
11,300
California Central Coast
#1
I'm pretty much brand new to all this and haven't done any work on my basses myself yet so bear with me. You won't be impressed. I promise.

Found this sad looking Davison P-style at a local thrift store yesterday. I would have walked away but this particular thrift store employs developmentally challenged adults and we try to support them whenever possible. Plus I don't have a P-style bass and it seems all the cool kids have one or two (or ten).

I jokingly asked for a 25% discount since it only had 75% of the strings but they just laughed at me and said no. My wife didn't bat an eye when I took it to the register and even whipped out her credit card. Love that woman.

There was duct tape on the nut under the D and G strings trying to keep them from touching the first fret. For sure it needs a new nut installed. The old one popped right out so no worries about removal. The output jack doesn't have that "spring lock" feeling when you plug in the cable. Feels like the cable will fall right out. It's making a connection, though. The volume and tone controls seem to be working. I gave the truss rod 1/8 of a turn just to make sure it was operational.

I'm thinking that with about fifty dollars (or less) in parts and strings maybe I can make it playable and educate myself a little bit at the same time. Then I won't be too intimidated to wrench on my other two "better" basses. I know there's lots of good set-up info on YouTube and such.

Haven't found too much info on these, not even here. I'm assuming quality is about on par with all the cheap eBay basses. Anyone else had any experience with one of these? Is it so bad that I should just tear it apart and save the body?

There seems to be a myriad of choices on replacement nuts. I realize the need to measure the old one before I order and the need to sand down a replacement to fit but curious about what material or brand name is preferable.

Thanks in advance for any and all opinions or advice. Even if you tell me to burn it.

WP_20190310_12_30_30_Pro.jpg
 
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#2
Cool. Plenty to work with there and you'll end up with something playable.

First piece of advice is, don't throw away the original nut. (Assuming it's not too late.)

The nut is one of the last things I would do. First take the strings off, clean up the body and neck, oil the fretboard and make sure all the screws are tight. Then put on a new set of strings (with the old nut). Then set it up (intonation, bridge saddle height, truss rod adjustments if needed). If you find the nut slots are cut too deep, shim the nut by sticking a little strip of cardboard under it.

You may need a new nut but you may not. If you do, it's helpful to save the old one so you can measure all the dimensions on it.
 
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#3
I bought a Squier CV pickup and complete wiring harness for $25, maybe something like that would be the simplest way of making it sound pretty awesome. I'm guessing the existing pickup is functioning but I have tried a Davidson P bass before and while it wasn't great in terms of sound, it was certainly playable, neck was decent and it could be improved pretty easily. For $25 for example, you can replace the jack, pots and pickups with something that actually sounds great and perhaps be something totally gig worthy. In terms of overall quality, it's better than most of the cheap ebay basses you see for $100 or less.
I agree, this sounds like a fun way to get into modding/repairing a bass - best of luck and congrats.
 
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#5
Super score! I would've bought it. I'd only replace parts if they dont work. Exception being the electronics, might see a decent improvement there. Based on what you say about the jack, I'd start with jack and pots, see what that does. As convenient as a wiring harness is, separate parts let's you practice soldering- but that's up to you.

Highly recommend Wilkinson parts. Affordable but good quality. Tuners, bridges and pickups, they're all over Ebay.
 
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#6
Basic setups and tweaking of your instruments, including truss rods, is not only a very useful and valuable skill set to acquire, it's also very easy to do so. This new P Bass seems like the perfect vehicle to do that. In the end you will have turned it into a player, and given yourself the confidence to adjust your other instruments. Have some fun with it.
 
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#12
M.R. Ogle said:
A slice o' tortloaf would be nice, but any of those that look good (not photo-tort) those might cost more than the bass.
Click to expand...

Yeah, don't want more $$ in the pick guard than the bass.

jd56hawk said:
Whatever you change, dont get rid of that pickguard!
Click to expand...

Thanks! I kind of see the beauty in its ugliness myself. Gives it character.
 
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#20
Davison is one of those $100 or less basses on eBay, if it were on eBay. It is one of the less frequently-seen badges of the tribe of Ammoon seen on Amazon -- probably is quite light. When I was getting my Chinese cheapies 22 months ago the ones with the hook headstock were Crescent and Irin, and they were the best of the lot.

And I wish the body were the color of the pickguard, in translucent sunburst.
 
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